A77358:298
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher…The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher…
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The third volume. [sic] Viz. 1. The spiritual life, and in-being of Christ in all believers. 2. The woman of Canaan.The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The third volumn. [sic] Viz. 1. The spiritual life, and in-being of Christ in all believers. 2. The woman of Canaan.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1649
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Object. It will be said, If Christ liveth in all Believers, really liveth in them by his Spirit, then what need of Ordinances? for Christ and the Spirit of Christ in me, can live without Ordinances: and if a man have attained once unto the Spirit, Christ in him, and Christ living in him; and have attained unto the Spirit, the Spirit of Christ really living in him; what need of any Commandments without? or Rules without? for the Spirit will be a sufficient-Rule to lead him into all that is right: what need therefore of any Commandments, Rules, or Ordinances without?
Object. It will be said, If Christ liveth in all Beleevers, really liveth in them by his Spirit, then what need of Ordinances? for Christ and the Spirit of Christ in me, can live without Ordinances: and if a man have attained once unto the Spirit, Christ in him, and Christ living in him; and have attained unto the Spirit, the Spirit of Christ really living in him; what need of any Commandements without? or Rules without? for the Spirit will be a sufficient-Rule to lead him into all that is right: what need therefore of any Commandements, Rules, or Ordinances without?
Answ. Yes: For we use the Ordinances, not only for the enjoyment of God in them: but as a testimony of our Obedience. If that the enjoyment of God, and Christ, were the only reason of the Ordinances, then in case that a man could without the Ordinances have the enjoyment of God, and Christ, he might lay by the Ordinances: but seeing that we are for to use the Ordinances as an act of our Obedience, although a man can enjoy Christ, have the Spirit, and Christ living in him; yet notwithstanding, he is still to bear up the Ordinances, because there he is to express his Obedience unto God, and Christ. And now (give me leave a little to fix here, to take off this scruple, and Objection) if you look into the 27. of Numbers, you shall find, that Joshua had the Spirit, and not in an ordinary way, but in a more than ordinary way the Lord gave Joshua his Spirit: and yet notwithstanding, Joshua was to be under Commandments, and under Ordinances: at the 18. verse. The Lord said unto Moses, take thee Joshua the sun of Nun, a ⟨p. 101⟩